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Spring Fever around Shipyard Marine doesn’t necessarily mean that temperatures are high. Sure, it might be T-shirt weather around the docks on one of those days when the temps are just above freezing, but then again it could dump a foot of fresh snow the next.

With the glorious surprise of fresh powder, slush or sun awaiting you in the final days of a Wisconsin winter, here are a few sure things we have happening to help you find that cure for your Spring Fever…..

With the upcoming Green Bay and Oshkosh boat shows Shipyard Marine is excited to kick off another great boating season with our new and used models including Chaparral, Robalo, Formula, Malibu, Axis, Premier, and Palm Beach.

Fuel Prices are down which means boating fans around the world are crowding into boat shows looking for a new adventure. Being a Top 100 Dealer along with having the best service department and rack storage building we can’t wait to see what the summer will bring.

With low fuel prices gas stations are going to be busier than ever with people finally being able to enjoy their hobbies knowing they have extra money in their pockets. Crowded gas stations and boat ramps = less time on the water. Why worry about the hassle of docking and fueling when you could have the ease of us doing it for you? Here at Shipyard Marine we like to take the hassle out of boating!

Join us at the upcoming Green Bay and Oshkosh Boat Shows in February and March at Shopko Hall and Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and the EAA grounds.

These sunny days are just the start of an action-packed summer ahead so let Shipyard Marine help you find your summer fun!

Take your significant other boating and let the water and the experience of fun and excitement work their magic! Follow a few of these tips to transform your significant other into a first mate.

1) Educate

Attend a boat show or demo days event, these are perfect places to introduce a spouse to boating! This allows you to compare each boat in person, and discuss your needs with sales consultants and representatives. Attending boat shows can be a family activity and your significant other can get their questions answered by experts about the boat owning experience.

2) Accessibility

Educate your partner on how accessible the boating lifestyle is and show them on a map the short distance it is to get to the place you enjoy boating. This will ease their worries of a long distance drive to spend the day on their new boat.

3) Affordability

Visit discoverboating.com and print out their Boating’s Budget Planner. This compares the cost of boat ownership to the cost of other family leisure activities. Create a family budget that includes your monthly boat related payments to show your significant other that you can afford a boat.

4) Experience the Lifestyle

Get your significant other in the mood for boating by doing a boat rental, and experience a day of boating as a couple or with the family. Bringing the family will get everyone excited about the boating experience and show your significant other that boating really does bring family and friends closer together. Doing a boat rental is a good indication if the boating lifestyle is for you.

5) Taking Time

Purchasing a boat is a big deal, take the time to sit down with your significant other and discuss all the pros and cons of the boating lifestyle. You can then talk them through their worries and let them know why purchasing a boat is a great experience!

After a slow start to the boating season in 2013 due to the weather and now in 2014 enduring one of the coldest winters in the last couple decades, Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous fuzzy forecaster, popped out of his hole this February 2nd in western Pennsylvania to tell the nation that our winter weather will drag on for another six weeks.

Really! Who wants another six weeks of this? Well maybe there is hope…An analysis of weather data from the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., shows that Phil’s forecasts are, on average, inaccurate. “The groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years,” according to the center. “Phil’s competitor groundhogs across the nation fared no better.”

The Center found that from 1988-2012, the groundhog was right 10 times and wrong 15 times. In other words, 10 times, the national average temperature for the remainder of February matched what would be expected based on what the groundhog predicted.

Last year, the furry rodent did not see his shadow, so there should have been an early spring. Phil gets a mixed grade last year-the nation had a slightly warmer than average February but a chillier than average March.

Since 1887, the groundhog has seen his shadow 100 times (meaning six more weeks of winter), and not seen it 17 times to predict an early spring.

With that said, even though it’s really cold now there is only about 40 days until the first day of spring, so please don’t forget to call us to schedule any of those last minute winter work projects so our technicians can have your boat ready for the water as soon as the first sign of summer arrives.

Thanks for a great 2013 and I am really looking forward to getting the 2014 season kick off really soon!

It’s been said that in order for yourself to become better as an individual, you always need to evaluate. I think this is especially easy to do during the Autumn season. It is one of the most natural times of year to evaluate. After all, it is the end of something. And nothing is more evident, as you watch all of the plants end their life cycle; the leaves begin to change…. and you have the sense of the END lingering in the air.

Summer’s lively energy beats like a drum with so much happening all the time. It usually becomes a struggle trying to fit in everything that you can possibly do. And of course, you have to do EVERYTHING because you don’t want to miss out on anything. As you can tell, FOMO seems to have control over me!

But that’s how it goes. The sunsets go faster as the days get shorter and precursed notions float through the brain like the rolling clouds passing through a tumultuous fall sky. Sometimes the questions outweigh the answers as we feel the need to rush to make sure we’re living life as full as we can.

“Did I accomplish everything I wanted to this summer?”

“Is there anything I wish I could’ve done more of?”

“Did I really maximize my summer exposure to the beauty of the environment surrounding me?”

When seasons change, I tend to question my performance. Harvest time has come. Has it been bountiful, or did too many weeds grow and choke out my crop this season? Thought like this, though it is beneficial, can be exhausting.

Maybe it’s time to shift gears. What if we thought about those things that defined the summer? You know – those moments were you felt like you were LIVING completely. Think of it like a Greatest Hits album for your life in the Summer of ’13. What did it sound like? What was going on? Who was with you?

I thought about this, and it seems like it doesn’t matter so much what you were doing; it was who you were with. Spending those little moments simply being with those people you love was LIVING. Those were the moments. These are the days of our lives.

Though the magic energy of summer dwindles into history for another year, we go on holding on to our memories like precious jewels. But the memories aren’t anything in themselves. Rather, the people that we were with at those times are the jewels. Love is where the true value lies.

Now that is a wealth worth maximizing – regardless of the season.

Congrats to some of our new boat buyers this season! We hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends!

Somewhere under the snowflakes and ice shoves, spring is waiting to burst out the sun and fun we all crave! Are you ready for it? I sure am! This year we’re excited to announce many new updates at Shipyard Marine, including the position change of Chad VanderKelen. Chad has moved into boat sales. You might know him from helping you find boat parts when he was in our parts department. Better yet, now he is helping you find the entire boat! Brandon Hockers, our newest addition, is now taking care of parts, and we also have added a few more to our detailing crew.

Speaking of detailing, we have just opened our Shipshape Detailing Center at 1651 Velp Avenue in Green Bay. A new division at Shipyard Marine where our signature service is our Shine n’ Float and Shine n’ Fly detailing packages. Whether you’re away by boat or plane, With Shine n’ Float or Shine n’ Fly, you don’t have to pay loads of money just to stay in the Green Bay airport parking lot or feel bad leaving a dirty car behind at the marina. You can have your car detailed and ready just before you return from your trip away. Simply call us and we can give you more details…When you’re gone we shine!

What else should you watch out for? Shipyard TV will be an online show featuring yours truly reporting on special events, interviews, boat tests, and boating lifestyle. It’ll be a fast-paced, 3-5 minute entertaining clip guaranteed to get you excited about going boating. Stay tuned for more!

Also, our clubhouse just got a new facelift! We recently installed new maple cabinetry and granite countertops. Now rack customers can enjoy entertaining your crew in style before or after hitting the water.

Shipyard Marine Clubhouse

Meeting at the clubhouse is a great way to start off your day of boating. Speaking of starting off in style – thanks to all who attended our annual Crack the Ice Party. Even though this season seems to be taking its sweet time to get going, getting together with friends to talk boating always warms up the environment. Make sure to check out the pictures in the previous blog post!

Shipyard Marine had the annual Crack the Ice Party last Saturday at the Green Bay Yacht Club. Guests were entertained with summer picnic style hors d’ oeuvres and cold beverages.

Crack the Ice Party Sculpture

Outside, the humid spring air kept the temperature around the mid 40’s. On display was Shipyard Marine’s fabulous new Chaparral 327 SSX sport boat, as well as the venerable blue Donzi 38 ZRC, both lit up in blue LED lighting setting the mood for a rockin’ boat party.

On the dance floor, DJ DR WRATH was spinning the tunes to help kick of the boating season right. The dance floor soon started hopping and the ice sculpture would soon meet its demise!

Later in the night, Andy took to the microphone, offered up a toast celebrating the close to a long winter, and defeated the ice with the passion and indignation of a true boater’s spirit.

GBYC patio dwellers

Party Crew

Chaparral 327 SSX

Ice Sculpture

Donzi 38 ZRC

Put your hands in the a-yer!

Moments before the cracking

Thanks again to all who attended. Now we can only wait intently on the weather to cooperate!

Last year we were spoiled. It probably started around March 2012 – sometime mid month the snow was completely melted and we were experiencing temps in the 80’s. I remember attending a St Patty’s Day festival where there were tents and live bands set up outside much like a summer music festival. What a difference a year makes.

This year we haven’t gotten so lucky – depending how you look at it. If you’re into winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, I’m sure you’ve had great season. However, it’s been complicated for getting work done on boats that generally gets done before the season starts.

Below normal temps has made it hard for doing work on boats outside. With temps below 32 degrees at night, boats kept in heated storage have to stay inside to prevent risk of freezing. Work needs to be done in a heated shop. The type of work that can be done needs to be limited as well – like sanding for instance, to control dust.

When it does finally get warm there’s going to be a lot that needs to happen. This may lead to one heck of a backlogged bottleneck at dealers when it comes to getting boats ready for the recommissioning rush that happens on the start of every season.

April 2013 – Melting ice in Shipyard Marine’s channel

But despite frigid temps keeping the waterways well frozen, there have been promising reports of the rise in water levels. Precipitation from relatively heavy snowfall this winter may have a contribution to helping water levels to return. Although time will tell what the water will look like for summer boating. Chances are we’ll probably need a bit more rain throughout the spring and even into summer before we can call levels normal. Keep your fingers crossed!

Regardless, cooler temps will not hinder Shipyard from kicking off the season in grandiose style. This Saturday, April 6th is the Annual “Crack the Ice Party” at the Green Bay Yacht Club, our yearly celebration to the boating season. It’s always a fun time to be had, with music, drinks, food, boats, and fun. This year DJ DR WRATH will be spinnin’ the records to “melt away the winter blues.” Come and check us out!

Are you considering selling your boat? Maybe it’s been sitting in the corner of the back shed for years; with so many other projects to get to, you just simply had the time to enjoy it. Or maybe you are considering in moving up in size. Maybe you noticed the 18’ bowrider getting a little crowded last season as the family gets bigger. Either way, Shipyard Marine is here to help you.

It may be hard to believe now, especially today, because it was 17 degrees this morning, and we’re just digging out of an additional 6 inches of snow from the previous day (I thought the month of March usually brings on springtime?). Something that isn’t so surprising is that Wisconsin weather always brings about its lovely surprises. I digress….

As I was saying, it may be hard to believe, but this time of the year we’re selling lots of boats. This differs from fall, as when we usually see a huge influx of boaters looking to sell at the end of the season. However now, people are thinking about spring. Cabin fever has been spreading. The phone has been ringing with folks looking to get into the boat of their dreams for an exciting summer that is definitely approaching.

So now is the time to move your boat! With Shipyard Marine brokered boats listed on 50+ websites, our brokerage program can help you sell your boat FAST, and you can turn your boat into much needed cash. Contact us today and we’ll get yours listed!

Mercury Marine presented Shipyard Marine in Green Bay, WI the prestigious Service Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Award for the fifth year in a row. A total of 99 dealers across North America qualified for the Service CSI Award for 2012.

Mercury Marine’s Service CSI Program measures the satisfaction of consumers after having service work done on their Mercury outboard or MerCruiser Sterndrive or inboard.

“It just goes to show how passionate my technicians are about boats and boating. I’m proud of what they can do and how they take care of our customers,” said Joe Lorge, Service Coordinator for Shipyard Marine.

To be eligible for the Service CSI Award, a dealer must maintain a score of 90 or better out of 100 in the Service CSI survey.

With 2012 quickly coming to a close, we at Shipyard get to say goodbye to a lot of boats as we tuck them away nicely for storage. We also get the chance to await new 2013 models as they come in. Fortunately for us we had a customer order a brand new 2013 Formula end of the season, and it recently was delivered with some time for us to drool over (don’t worry, we didn’t let it get on that fresh new Ultraleather!)

I happened to snap a few pictures to give you a little virtual tour of this cool sapphire blue beauty. Check it out:

View from back – as close to factory custom as you can get

Cockpit louge – Pure Formula comfort

Sapphire blue wetbar

Sapphire blue and red accents

Ready to glisten on the water!

Cockpit refrigerator

Racing inspired helm

Raymarine Chartplotter

Axius Joystick Docking System

Luxurious cabin – walnut hardwood floors

mid cabin berth, pillows and enclosures

Enclosed head

Flatscreen TV – could you not live here?

Is this boat not off the hook? Talk about quite a Christmas gift. Santa – I’ve been good this year… are you listening??

New model years are exciting. We’ll keep you updated this winter as new models roll in to give you a little extra warmth during those cold months. We can feel for you while you’re waiting to fire up your baby from storage on that first warm spring weekend!